Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-07-06

to Office 1t home Mr.. Cleveland appointed
three men who had been rebel soldiers or
rebel sympathizers. Instead OF showing ct
least equal honor to the men who wore the
blue, lie turned out the old soldiers Of the
Union, and turned in the men who wore
the gray. The greater part OF the general
offices In the departments at Washington,
as we'll rs In tho foreign service, were filed
from the South, as o Copperheads tribute
OF honor to the "lost cause" Thus again
Republican predictions were fulfilled in o
disgracefli and disheartening chapter OF
American history.
Following the same policy Of directing
public affairs 80 as 10 make the Southern
and not the Northern idea of the rebellion
the one for public notice, the administra-
ton next advised the removal OF the plate
bearing the names of the Union victories
that was set up as a memorial at the Nor
folk Navy Yard. The ex-rcbels had be-
come tired of seeing the mute suggestion
that in certain memorable contests, the
men who fought for one flag and one ma
ton had beaten the men who fought for
another flag and q divided nation. And SO,
to conciliate the sentiment Of those who
insisted that the "lost cause" was the right
cause, the memorial plate was torn down,
aud the Union colors were agnin trailed IN
the dust. That was a beautiful way to
guard the "jewel of liberty" and teach the
youth Of the land that there was homer in
loyalty, and shame and dishonor in dis
loyalty, but that was the way that this adj
ministration took, and marked the fulfill
ment Of Republican predictions.
Then came the pension vetoes. and the
brutal and insulting language i'll which Mr.
Cleveland referred to Union soldiers. The
Democrats had said that tho election Of
Cleveland would make nc difference in the
nations treatment Of the men who had
saved its life, but IL did. Republicans
warned the country that il the Democratic
party put a Copperhead III the White
House, they would inlet a Copperhead,
Union-so cr.hatiug policy uron the conn.
try, and they did. One hundred and nine.
teen tines did the President differ with
Congress on the treatment to be given the
Union soldier and those dependent upon
him, and always to the misfortune of tue
victims of his brutal indifference to the inst
claims upon the nation. Not only did he
refuse the pittancc which would have gone
to thousands Of needy sufferers, but he
went out of his way to insult with low jibe
and indecent jests the survivors of the
Union armi 6. Never in the history of the
country had there teen a parallel to thi
disgraceful and degrading exhibition of the
coar,e Wit, the consuming egoiism and the
brutal indifference to suffering and the
utter disregard of the claims of patriotism
and loyalty.
Now comes the crowning act of this pol
icy Of southern aggression and Northern
humiliation, i'll Cleseland's order returning
the rebel flags. Taken without warrant of
law or precedent, the proper y of the Gov
erpment, the seals of a nations struggles
and tiiumphs, he proposes to return to the
South, to be Haunted in t. face of the
world. to flags that typify all the wicked
ness of secession and disunion. No Won
der that, like an electric shock, a thrill of
indignation W, mt over the country from
Maine TO California, and compelled even
this stubborn and self willed President to
call Il halt. When arrc sted by the tfemen-
dous upheayal Of publis opinion, he pleads
that be finds no legal authority for the pro-
posed surrender, and thus creeps out OF
the predicament in which his lack Of law
and not of incl nation would have placed
him. SO in each browning act OF dlsbono
and betrayal of the nations convictions
and sarrcd sentiments, this Democratic
administration is fulfilling Republican pre-
dictions. They confirm the wisdom and
the truth of the solemn fo~rebodings with
which patriots anticipated the election OF
Mr.. Cleveland, and il the country is rot
lost 10 all sense of a decent regard for the
| opinion OF mankind. they will prove an ef-
fectual waning against the election of an
other Copperhead President.